Rooppur’s inaugural reactor took a historic step forward on 28 April 2026 when technicians began inserting 163 uranium fuel assemblies into its core. The ceremony was broadcast live from Pabna, attended by Bangladesh’s Science & Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam, Rosatom’s director-general Alexei Likhachev and IAEA representatives. The minister hailed fuel loading as a landmark “historic step toward carbon-free electricity generation”. Rosatom’s Likhachev noted that Rooppur makes Bangladesh the latest country to join the global nuclear “club”, and said the plant will be a “vital element of the country’s energy system”.
The Rooppur NPP consists of two Generation-III+ VVER‑1200 reactors (AES-2006 design), each nominally 1,200 MW. Construction began on Unit 1 in Nov 2017 and on Unit 2 in Jul 2018. First concrete was poured in 2017–2018, and Russia’s Atomstroyexport has been responsible for engineering, procurement and construction. The plant’s total cost is about $12.6–13 billion, with 90% financed via Russian state loans. Fuel for Rooppur (low-enriched uranium pellets in zirconium cladding) has been supplied by Rosatom’s TVEL, and all spent fuel will be repatriated to Russia under the contract.
Safety and licensing work has run in parallel with construction. Bangladesh’s Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) issued key permits years ago (a site licence in 2016, construction licences in 2017–18) and in April 2026 granted the operating (commissioning) licence for Unit 1. In August 2025, an IAEA pre-operational safety review team (Pre-OSART) visited Rooppur Unit 1 and commended the operator’s commitment to safety. The plant has completed pre-commissioning tests (hydraulic and hot functional tests) and has received about two years’ worth of fuel on site (delivered Oct 2023).
Over the coming weeks the newly-loaded reactor will be taken through start-up tests. It will be brought to a “minimum controllable power” level and then gradually ramped up. Officials expect electricity generation to begin by late July or early August 2026, initially at around 300 MW. Output will then increase by about 10–15% per month; Rosatom plans to commission Unit 1 by July 2026 and Unit 2 by 2027. According to Minister Anam, Unit 1 should deliver roughly 1,100 MW to the grid by early January 2027 and reach full 1,200 MW capacity later that month. Unit 2’s fuel loading is slated for late 2026 (after Unit 1), with provisional handover now extended to Dec 2027 and full project completion by mid-2028.
Internationally, Bangladesh’s entry into nuclear power has been warmly received. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi congratulated Bangladesh on the milestone, calling it “a great day” and emphasizing nuclear power’s long-term benefits in ensuring low-carbon baseload energy. Grossi noted the project is “a long-term commitment that brings both long-term benefits and responsibilities” and reiterated continued IAEA support for Bangladesh’s nuclear programme. Domestically, officials stress that Rooppur will enhance energy security by reducing reliance on imported fossil fuel and helping meet surging demand. The plant is expected to generate about 10–15% of Bangladesh’s electricity once both units are in operation, significantly diversifying the country’s energy mix.
